High RTLH rate: Home Affairs Minister urges Papua regional governments to ease housing construction permits

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has requested regional governments in Tanah Papua to simplify the licensing process for house construction as part of accelerating the programme to provide liveable housing for the community.

“Accelerating housing development cannot rely solely on the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD), but requires cross-sector collaboration, including support from banks, developers, and the simplification of licensing services in the regions,” said Minister Tito in Jayapura City, Papua, on Monday.

According to the Home Affairs Minister, the central government continues to push development programmes through various schemes, including the national target of building millions of houses.

“However, in Tanah Papua the challenges remain quite significant, especially regarding the high number of Uninhabitable Houses (RTLH) and limited access to home ownership,” said Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian.

“Thus, we assess that there are still a number of regions that have not fully implemented licensing ease, including exemptions or fee relief for low-income communities in accordance with applicable regulations,” said the Home Affairs Minister.

Based on the government’s mapping, he said, the percentage of people who do not yet own a home or who live in uninhabitable houses in several Papua regions is still relatively high compared to other areas, thus requiring more intensive policy intervention.

“This is a problem that must receive serious attention, so that central government intervention continues to be increased in Papua,” he said.